Knit fabric for mattresses



(No Model.)

G. F. SUMNER. KNIT FABRIC FOR MATTRESSES.

No. 573,720. Patented Dec. 22, I896.

UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE FREDERICK SUMNER, OF CANTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

KNIT FABRIC FOR MATTRESS ES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 573,720, dated December 22, 1896. Application filed February 24, 1891. Serial No. 382,645. (No specimens) T0 (dbwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE FREDERICK SUMNER, of Canton,-in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Knit Fabrics for Mattresses, &c., of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a new and useful fabric for mattresses, &c. I accomplish this object by taking thick slivers of cotton as they come from the carding-machine and have but little or no twist in them (what twist there is being that given by the rotation of the cans, if they are deposited in cans) and then wind around each of these slivers a piece of thread to hold the-fibers in place, so that each sliver becomes a soft rope 'of cotton, ordinarily about an inch in diameter. These slivers are taken to a knittingmachine adapted to make my new fabric. In this machine the slivers are carried back and forth in double parallel lines, and while this is being done needles carrying thread knit loops firmly around the slivers, binding them together, thus forming a new and useful fab ric, differing, essentially, from any other of which I'am aware.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional view taken at right angles to the slivers of the fabrie. This view also shows a small part of the machine for making the fabric. In Fig. 2 a selvage edge of the fabric is shown for the purpose of indicating the arrangement of the slivers and the loop-stitch method of uniting these sliversby the interknitbinding-threads.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings the fabric is shown with the slivers formally laid and bound together by the interknit threads. of slivers'A A, arranged in a regular manner The series side by side with the slivers B B and the complication of the interknit binding-thread, are shown in a regular arrangement.

Fig. 2 gives the appearance of the selvage edge of the fabric. appears more as it does in fact, the rigid regularity of formation being modified.

The fabric is shown in Fig. 1 as it theoretically would be in the machine; but in Fig.

2 I have represented it as it really appears, so

owing to the strain of the knitted threads,the threads acting conjointly to draw the layers in such a manner as to force them to assume wedge shapes and to int'erwedge with each other, so as to'impart a firmness to the fabric 5. 5

that it wouldnot otherwise possess.

It is obvious that fibers-other than cotton may ibe used, such as jute, wool, &c. These fibers may be substituted for cotton, but in practice I have found that'cotton is the best, 60

cheapest, and most satisfactory.

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

An improved fabric, particularly adapted to be used for mattresses and cushions, made 6 of two, or more slivers, or ropes of fibers having a little or no twist in them, laid in alternating, parallel lines, and secured together by interknit or binding thread or threads so that these slivers are fastened and held in po- 7o sition in a soft, yielding state, substantially as, and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, on this 12th day of 7 5 l.-cbruary, A. 1). 1891.

, GEORGE FREDERICK SUMNER.

\Vitncsses:

FRANK G. PARKER, E WARD S. DAY;

In this 'view the fabric 45 

